Beneath the Ashes

Chapter 16

The tension in the room grew oppressive, hanging heavy in the air as the knock echoed through the apartment. Aika's body stiffened in Sharva's arms, her gaze snapping toward the door like a cornered animal anticipating its predator. She said nothing, but the fear in her widened eyes spoke volumes. Sharva reluctantly let her go, his hands brushing her shoulders as if to reassure her, though his own heart thundered in his chest. Her words still rang in his mind, raw and unrelenting, unraveling a past he wasn't sure he could fully understand—but one he would fight to protect.

He stepped toward the door, his movements slow and deliberate, his senses sharp. The cold metal of the doorknob pressed against his palm, a small jolt grounding him before he turned it. The door creaked open to reveal two uniformed officers standing on the threshold. Their expressions were a careful balance of concern and professionalism, their postures rigid, their presence a reminder that the world outside remained as dangerous as ever.

"Good evening," one of them began, his voice calm but probing. His eyes darted over Sharva, then into the apartment, scanning the dim interior. "We received a call about a disturbance. Is everything alright?"

Sharva forced a steady nod, swallowing back the chaos still surging through him. "Yes, we're fine now. Someone broke in. Tried to—" He paused, glancing over his shoulder at Aika. She remained on the couch, her arms wrapped around her knees, her small frame trembling despite the stillness of the room. Sharva's voice softened, his words careful. "—hurt her. But I stopped him."

The officer tilted his head, pulling out a notepad. "Did the suspect take anything? This sounds like a robbery gone wrong."

Sharva hesitated, catching Aika's gaze. Something unspoken passed between them—a shared understanding of the secrets they couldn't afford to reveal.

"Yes," Sharva said finally, his tone measured. "It looked like a robbery. But he didn't take anything. I scared him off before he could."

The officer nodded, jotting down notes as his partner glanced around the apartment, his sharp eyes lingering on Aika for a moment too long. Their questions followed a predictable rhythm: descriptions of the intruder, the events leading up to the break-in, whether they wanted to press charges. Sharva answered each one carefully, offering just enough to satisfy their inquiries.

When the officers finally left, the door clicking shut behind them, silence descended over the room once more. It wasn't a peaceful silence. It was the kind that pressed down on the soul, a reminder of the truths they'd left unspoken.

Sharva turned back to Aika. She hadn't moved, her knees still drawn to her chest, her gaze fixed on the floor. Her vulnerability struck him like a blow, stirring something deep within him—a fierce, protective instinct that refused to be ignored.

He crossed the room in a few determined strides, kneeling in front of her. His presence seemed to draw her back from whatever abyss she had been staring into. Slowly, her wide, uncertain eyes met his.

"Aika," he said softly, his voice filled with an ache he couldn't suppress. He reached for her hands, finding them cold and trembling in his own.

She didn't pull away, but her silence was deafening.

"I know this is sudden," he began, his voice low and roughened by the weight of his emotions. "But tonight... tonight made everything clear to me. I can't stand to see you running anymore. I can't bear the thought of losing you, Aika—not to your past, not to the danger that follows you. I don't care what's chasing you. I don't care about the shadows you think you can't escape. All I want is to stand by you, to protect you."